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'MOA "GS" Trials Event;

As many have read already, Randy Owens(ME), Rob Nye and Jim Hansen have been putting together GS events, from riding the countryside on dirt byways to the motocross track play times(Thursday and Friday), on the rally site. A "GS Trials" event will be held on SATURDAY, mid morning, for a few hours(depending on numbers) and I wish for all of to bring your best dirt skills to this, for some good "competition" among riders. "Trials", means slow, technically challenging, obstacle course kind of riding on dirt/mud,soft stuff,etcetc.. Its a fun time to be had, for even those with less than perfect dirt skills. Just a need to have fun is all thats required. We will have safety guidelines of course, but nothing you don't know already. We have been doing this out west for years and years at the 49er Rally with great success and spectator/rider support and I hope to bring a show to the National crowd as well. All GS riders should have some interest and "maybe" even join in, for some good times. Not an experienced dirt rider, NO WORRIES, come let some of us seasoned GS riders help you learn(Thursday and Friday), at your pace on the track. We won't push you, but will give aide to your questions and even show you some tricks on dirt riding your GS. Its fun and we want nothing more than to bring our dirt world to all with "adventure" in their blood. I am 55 now and ride dirt today as since my youth and hope to until I can't get on the bike anymore. Maybe 80+, Wishful Think'in. Many will show up with much experience offroad and I wish for some good rider on rider, educational challenges, instructional help from many of those wishing to help ME. Please volunteer with us and we will have play time, too. The "Event" on Saturday morning will show who's who in our world and all riders of any level and willingness, will be welcome to give it a shot at GS Stardome. Awards? Yes! I'm working on it. LETS HEAR WHO's INTERESTED! I need some "juice" from you GS and spectator folks and I suspect there's plenty to go around! Be there, some of the BEST RIDERS will be, for sure. Randy"Polarbear"

+1 with what Paul said. I've ridden alot of dirt, but that was thirty years ago, and on machines that were a little lighter than my R1200GS Adventure. I'm looking forward to the experience and the guidance.

My only ???? is will we get bonus if we do the trials course with road tires... Will be there on my 1150 GS but with Metz tourance... would be nice to see how i do on the roads compared the crazy stuff i do on knobbies..

YES on tires;

Some will ride on knobs, indeed, BUT I will ride my GSA1200 on Battle Wings by BS. Standard dual sport tires for me, so we will show how its possible both ways, regarding tires. Rob Nye has expressed interest in buying knobs, once out west, via some local dealers. He is researching this, for those interested in swapping tires in the middle of your trip. He will ride from Rhode Island on Tourances, switch to knobs for Wyoming, Colorado and go back to the Tourances for the trip home, I believe this is his thinking. If we get rain, during the eventing, etc., knobs will have a great advantage over the standard tires, indeed. Your choice. Its only money. Dry conditions will be fine for either kind of tire is this offroad adventure, imo. Tire pressure goes a long way to managing bike maneuverability off road, so bring your electric tire pumps. You know this is a first time adventure for our BMWMOA National Rally and of course most rallies have been unable to have this kind of event. NO m/x tracks, but this one rally site has it on site. HOW COOL is this! We will take advantage, with Rob's phone work, he managed to get the facility handed over to us for three days. We will offer all the muster we have to make this "MOA GS Biker Event" friendly and have a ton of fun, in safe and sane fashion. Many have expressed concern about the ability of BMW GS's offroad and this event will put any of that to rest, if I have my way. I'm working at it. Please speak up in this post and show interest, because I and my co chairs are looking forward to this and want to share our GS offroad interest with as many as possible. Looking forward to meeting many many out there. Happy Trails, "Polarbear", Randy Owens13233 PS; Don't forget local Jim Hansen's work too, setting maps for exploring the surrounding "DIRT BYWAYS". I hear he has one very exciting "Devils Tower" dirt experience for the GS's to explore. I want that one. RO, Adios

TVGal; You got it!

You want to play in the dirt? I'll share and give my best and give you a great head start at this experience, offroading. I'm pleased to have girls doing this and it makes me fuzzy all over, knowing some of the girlies have as much or more grit than so many guys that buy GS's and never do anything exciting with them! I might hurt myself or my bike! I've heard it too many times and have to wonder what kind of sheltered life some folks live...They probably get hurt brushing their teeth? Anyhow, enough bashing as the GS lineup surely makes for a very exceptional road touring bike, so be it. I love the adventure side and all the dirt byways N.America offers, too. Best of both worlds in these GS bikes. PS; The GIRLS in my family ride dirt, too at 25 and 53 years old, F650ST and Kawasaki KLR650. Fine bikes. My wife will be aboard her KLR650'08 for this trip to Wyoming. ME, R1200GSA'07, as I go BIG.....So, please look me up, TVGal and we'll play dirt all you want. Randy13233. I'm getting older at 55, but have not let up, with play time at hand. Happy Trails"Polarbear"

You bet:)

Help will be appreciated, bigtime. I don't run an organized, schooling(event) affair like this often and will need much help. We want fun for all and riders with experience and others too are surely needed to make it all happen. Lets have a fun time and learn some positive dirt lessons, so riders can partake in their own journeys on the dirt byways with some good knowledge of GS's and dirt. I would hope to see a lot of curious GS folks there in Gillette at the m/x track and hope to meet many many of my equals that know the dirt already. Lets share. Randy"Polarbear"13233 Happy Trails

What to wear;

Update on gear; You will have to wear your helmets, boots,gloves and anything else you wish. The three items are required to ride the m/x track. Longpants may well be included, for obvious reasons. The track will not be for racing BMW's, but simpler Trials kind of riding skills at a much slower pace. We don't race these things anyways, so our slower pace on GS's will do well here. Some may have air under their wheels, but I sincerely discourage much of this AIR activity and want safety at the forefront. Riding trails is a fun activity and exploring our vast wilderness areas is where BMWGS bikes excell, so take part and learn well. Randy,"Polarbear"

Sign Me Up

I have never done any formal dirt training and I look forward to it. I have a 2007 with the stock dual purpose tires. Am I well advised to buy knobbies before heading west? I live in Omaha and my experience is that knobbies do not work well at high speed in cross winds on asphalt. The wind will always blow on your nose or sideways in Nebr and Wyo. I lived on the Wyo border for 13 yrs and I know- the hard way.

Picture of a fellow rider on 2007 trip to Guatemala is attached. I know how to cross water, mud is my demon.

I have never done any formal dirt training and I look forward to it. I have a 2007 with the stock dual purpose tires. Am I well advised to buy knobbies before heading west? I live in Omaha and my experience is that knobbies do not work well at high speed in cross winds on asphalt. The wind will always blow on your nose or sideways in Nebr and Wyo. I lived on the Wyo border for 13 yrs and I know- the hard way.

Picture of a fellow rider on 2007 trip to Guatemala is attached. I know how to cross water, mud is my demon.

Fritz

if you have an oilhead, and you start from omaha on a new set of continental tkc 80s, you may just make it back home with a little tread left.

expect 3-3500 miles from the rear... the front will go much longer.

you won't have any issues with traction on pavement with these tires, and they make a big difference off-road in loose/soft/wet terrain.

if you have an oilhead, and you start from omaha on a new set of continental tkc 80s, you may just make it back home with a little tread left.

expect 3-3500 miles from the rear... the front will go much longer.

you won't have any issues with traction on pavement with these tires, and they make a big difference off-road in loose/soft/wet terrain.

ian

It's the debate I'm also having. The rally's 1250 to 1500 miles from here, depending on the route. I can certainly, probably, get there and back on a set of TKC's, but to eat a set of tires up just to have them for a couple more fun spots.... hmmm...